fast break

noun

: a quick offensive drive toward a goal (as in basketball) in an attempt to score before the opponent's defense is set up
fast-break intransitive verb

Examples of fast break in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Through two games, Memphis has been outscored 48-8 in fast break points and the Thunder have racked up 49 points off turnovers. William Guillory, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025 The Wildcats, however, scored 13.9 fast break points per game, which was the best in the Big 12. Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 27 Mar. 2025 But the Trojans’ chances of winning the whole ball of wax took a big knee to the gut when Watkins’ right knee buckled during a fast break drive to the basket. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025 With 7:46 left and Texas trailing by 2 points, Preston jumped a pass across the top of the key and fought through the Tennessee player on the fast break to tie the score. Cameron Teague Robinson, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fast break

Word History

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fast break was in 1929

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fast break.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast%20break. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fast break

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!